Research Foci:
The goal of research at the Center for Engineering Learning and Teaching (CELT) is to understand and support engineering student learning. We believe it is important to use a variety of research methods in a combination of classroom-based settings in order to accomplish our goals. The areas in which we are currently engaged in research are below.
- Engineering Design - Design is central to engineering and thus a central area of CELT research. Although engineering design processes have attracted growing research attention, few studies focus on the design processes of engineering students. In our research, we seek to characterize how engineering students solve design problems, to understand the effectiveness of current approaches to engineering design instruction, and to ultimately develop and evaluate instruction to enhance the learning of engineering design.
- Students as Engineering Professionals - To become prepared for engineering professional practice, students need to obtain a mastery of technical topics. They also need the skills and knowledge identified in the ABET EC2000 learning outcomes, an integrated understanding of their own discipline, and an ability to integrate all skills in the context of a given engineering project. In our research we seek to characterize students' knowledge and ability in these areas. We also work on strategies to help students advance their knowledge and ability (e.g., portfolios).
Contact Information:
Cindy Atman, Director
CELT, Box 352180
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
Voice 206-616-2171
Email atman@engr.washington.edu